Two Heads are Better Than One: Team Teaching in the Information Age.

The success of Computer Science Applications 109, Information Retrieval Skills, at Doane College (Nebraska) is the result of a team effort. Until the fall of 1993, the class was taught by a single instructor. During the training of a new librarian, it was discovered that a team approach might benefit the students as well as the library faculty, and a new course in computerized searching was begun. This paper discusses the advantages and drawbacks of team teaching, course content, and teaching methodology. Advantages of library team teaching include: having two instructors instead of one to assist students; livelier and less formal classroom atmosphere; cooperative learning environment, as modeled by the instructors; individual instructor workload is lessened; reduced instructor stress associated with bibliographic instruction due to support of additional instructor; and it is easier to revise and update course content. Drawbacks include: the success of the course is dependent upon the success of the teaching team partnership; instructors must be in agreement in front of students; librarians must discuss student special circumstances and agree on a course of action; and time constraints on other library staff as both librarians must be absent from the library at the same time. The class research paper search strategy handout and final project assignment are appended. (Author/SWC) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************